saying. president biden's new timeline when every american can get the vaccine and exclusive with vice president kamala harris does she agree with the cdc's plan for reopening schools and what she says about vaccinating teachers our series, kids under pressure teens warning homework has become a nightmare in the pandemic one school working to change all that the tribute to rush limbaugh, the controversial conservative media icon. and scout's honor. 17 young women making history and inspiring america. this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt good evening and welcome these are desperate hours for millions in texas still left in the cold and dark this evening from a failing power grid. their misery compounded by subfreezing temperatures and only vague assurances of when the lights may come back for good the frantic search for warmth putting some families at deadly

risk for carbon monoxide poisoning as others find their water supplies frozen.exeme wean unrelenting. another storm on the march bringing ice and snow across more than a dozen states all this hitting vaccine shipments hard we're going to talk about that and what happens to all those now cancelled appointments a lot to cover this evening. let's begin in dallas with morgan chesky. >> reporter: tonight in texas, frustrations rising in a frigid crisis >> we need our power out here. >> my apartment is under 40 degrees. >> it's freezing the blackout, no electricity >> reporter: more than 3 million homes in the dark. from a brutal cold, crippling the state's power grid >> every source of power that the state of texas has has been compromised. >> reporter: today, texas governor greg abbott unable to say when the lights are coming back on. rolling blackouts forcing countless families to fend for themselves

the nordic communities hit especially hard. when you hear power may not be restored for days, how does that >> like a brick. and tired neighbors. in houston, survival efforts turning deadly more than 300 carbon monoxide cases flooding hospitals >> we are overwhelmed with the number of patients and that does make us have to go into kind of a mass casualty operation. >> reporter: people misusing cars, generators and fire pits trying desperately to stay warm. for others, a water nightmare. pipes bursting or freezing, forcing some to go to extremes >> we're going to continue to try to collect snow since we haven't had water. >> reporter: first responders working non-stop

police body cam capturing a dog trapped on an ice covered pond rescued and pulled to shore by officers just in time. the cold even hitting the coast where volunteers saved hundreds of sea turtles, nearly frozen and like so many others, left waiting to warm up >> we were ready for hurricanes here but not this. >> reporter: frightening realization with another freeze coming pledging generators and much needed diesel to run them to keep texas hospitals and other vital facilities open until this cold snap clears lester >> folks going through a lot, morgan if you'd like to help those in need, you'll find information on our "nbc nightly news" facebook page well, the pressing question in all of this why was texas so unprepared for the power struggle that has plunged so many into darkness and cold

gabe gutierrez in houston now with more. >> reporter: tonight, the so-called energy capital of the world is mostly powerless. who dropped the ball here? >> i think it's the state. for the worst case scenario now we're paying the price. >> reporter: texas is the only state with its own power grid that allows it to bypass federal regulations for cold weather safeguards the governor calling for an investigation of the non-profit ercot that operates the grid how could you not see this coming >> they saw it coming. the issue that happened on sunday, it also did damage to the supply side. and that knocked us enough out of balance that we had to take on these outages. >> reporter: some state leaders blame the outages on a failure wind and solar only make up 20% of the state's power natural gas makes up half. and this week, there wasn't enough supply for the demand caused by the extreme temperatures >> the power system, i think,

safe to say at this point, was not prepared for climate change. >> reporter: el paso is on a different electrical system running smoothly, leaving houston residents like terry who's been without power for three days, wondering what went so wrong >> everybody knew ahead of time that this storm was coming why are we in this position? >> more gas stations are closing here and some people are lining up for propane they have no firm answer on when to expect their power back lester another blast of dangerousst dylan dreyer is tracking it for us dylan, what's next >> there are more than 110 people under winter weather alerts from the deep south all the way to the northeast we will see more icing in areas that have already been hit hard, but tomorrow, we're especially looking for north carolina and virginia to see most of that ice. you go north of that, we will see some snow, but it's really the ice that's going to be a big issue because we could see as much as a quarter of an inch to half an inch of ice accumulation that would down trees and power lines and also make road conditions treacherous north of that though, we will

see most likely snow, but only about 4 to 6 inches out of this storm. lester >> dylan, i think we've all seen this movie before. thank you. the brutal weather is slowing down the vaccination effort in all of this. just over 40 million americans have now received at least one dose about 64,500 are hospitalized. that's down slightly our miguel almaguer has more on the vaccine delays triggers another, tonight, frigid weather in some 30 states have frozen many vaccine distribution centers to a standstill with delays in cancellation snowstorm in chicago preventing more than 100 providers from getting shipments. weather also causing rippling shipping delays in florida, leading to cancellations at grocery stores complicating an already confusing system, rescheduling appointments that were nearly impossible to get. >> i would certainly tell people to be their own best advocate and assume they need to

reschedule the vaccine themselves. >> reporter: while no agency is reporting the total number of missed vaccinations, it's not just the storm but the supply compounding problems in new york city, tens of thousands of appointments will be delayed because of their shortage and another storm is moving in. >> we're going to run out. today, tomorrow, we're going to run out of what we have now. >> reporter: with the u.s. vaccinating 1.7 million americans a day, the white house says vaccine supply in the states will increase to 13.5 million doses per week at gillette stadium outside boston, 65,000 have been inoculated almost enough people to fill every seat in the stand. for americans who can get a vaccine, scientists are getting close to answering a lingering question if you're vaccinated and become infected, can you still pass the virus to others? early research looks promising >> there have been some studies that are pointing into a very favorable direction that will have to be verified and

corroborated by other studies. >> reporter: but help can't come soon enough. by mid march, the cdc said 559,000 americans could lose their lives to the virus a dark reminder that every day and every delay can cost lives miguel almaguer, nbc news. >> those vaccine shortages have factored into a new timeline by president biden for when all americans will be able to get the shots and he's also offering a new goal for reopening schools. peter alexander has that story. >> reporter: tonight with the covid death toll approaching half a million people in the u.s., president biden's announcing a new timeline for when all americans who want a vaccine can get one. >> by the end of july, we'll have over 600 million doses, enough to vaccinate every single >> reporter: that's a shifting time frame after dr. fauci said last week that all americans can get vaccines in april, but white

house said there's been a delay in vaccine production and on reopening schools after the white house faced backlash for saying the president's 100 day goal was to have more than half open one day a week. >> at least one day a week, hopefully if more. >> reporter: this reset from president biden. >> that was a mistake in the communication. what i'm talking about is i said opening the majority of schools in k through eighth grade. >> reporter: and when would those schools be open five days a week >> i think we'll be close to that at the end of the first 100 days. >> reporter: the president during a cnn town hall touting his $1.9 trillion covid relief plan, offering this projection about when life may return to normal. >> by next christmas, i think, we'll be in a very different circumstance, god willing, than we are today >> reporter: and president biden will keep an eye on vaccines when he tours the pfizer manufacturing plant in michigan. lester in just 60 seconds, vice president kamala harris weighs in on reopening schools and vaccinating teachers

savannah guthrie's exclusive interview and plus in our series, kids under pressure, homework overload.

all right. we're back now with vice president kamala harris on the battle to reopen schools does she agree with the cdc's plan and do teachers need to be vaccinated first she spoke one on one with savannah guthrie >> let's talk about schools.

we got a lot of parents watching right now. the cdc, a few days ago, finally put out some long awaited guidance on how schools could safely reopen, but here's the thing. they tied it directly to the rate of infection in any given community. and i'm going to put a map up. because if schools were to follow that right now, 90% of the counties, 90% of the schools would not be able to open under the cdc's own metric was it a mistake for the cdc to connect school reopenings to how much infection there is in the community? >> let's first say this, that in the last four weeks, schools are opening every week more schools are opening and it is because we are supplementing what needs to happen around the vaccinations getting into states, but also because folks, we're seeing progress. >> what about that cdc guidance then that's the question. >> well, so here's the thing what the cdc, what they have recommended are exactly that, recommendations about how to reopen safely if they've been closed, how to stay open if they've been opened. the recommendations include, again, what needs to happen around social distancing, hand washing, mask wearing but the point is we all want our kids to get back to school as quickly as possible and safely as possible. >> the cdc has said it is not a prerequisite for teachers to be vaccinated for them to go back to school. but many teachers are wary of going back to school

can you reassure teachers going back to school that it is safe to go back to school even if they're not vaccinated if public health measures like distancing and masks are implemented? >> first of all, let me just say this and the president has said it and we're all really clear. teachers should be a priority. teachers should be a priority. i believe that 22 states, i believe, have prioritized. >> but they're not vaccinated, is it safe for them? >> i think we it's going to be safer for get our schools the infrastructure needs like helping them with their ventilation system, helping them create social distancing with barriers the things that are necessary to get them back open in a safe way. >> so savannah, after that interview, i understand late today, the white house clarified. >> reporter: that's right, a spokesperson said vice president and the president agree vaccinations are not a requirement for teachers to return it is the white house's

preference that teachers get priority, but that, lester, is up to the states >> an important conversation, savannah, thank you. and as the school debate rages, most students in our ground breaking study say they feel a crushing burden from pandemic learning. kate snow on the massive work load in our series "kids under pressure." >> reporter: high school senior hiba ansari is attending all her classes virtually. the line between school and home has blurred. >> we're looking at our computer screen all day and then at the end of the day, we get hours of homework at the end and then it's just computer time on computer time. >> according to our study, more than half of teens say time spent on schoolwork has gone up and average amount of weeknight homework rose to 3 hours a night. more than half of students say that's too much and nearly 70% cite grades, tests and assessments as top source of stress.

>> doing school work for ten straight hours or in class or just doing homework, i'm really tired and i just want to go to sleep. >> reporter: hiba is like so many students. how has your motivation about school changed >> this sounds bad but my motivation has gone down so much. >> reporter: found fewer students are enjoying school almost half say they're just going through the motions. at westlake high in austin where nearly half the students opted for in-person learning, they're trying to ease the pressure. >> when covid hit, we just knew we couldn't sustain what we had been doing in the past. >> reporter: each day, one subject drops off the schedule and becomes a period for personal work. >> sometimes they need a little tutoring sometimes they need one on one instruction and sometimes they need to start on their homework. >> reporter: seniors jenna may and felix chen and sophomore kaylee kish say it really helps. >> i think it's been the biggest reason why i have lower school stress this year. >> i'm able to check in with my teachers and i go over any of the material i didn't understand

the first time. >> we're learning the same efficiently. >> reporter: in our study, teachers gave students high grades for support and caring during the pandemic. >> they're being a little bit more flexible with time and just giving us more time in general >> teachers have been really understanding and because they know it's a crazy year for everyone >> reporter: extracurricular activities are helping too jenna has band, kaylee plays volleyball, felix is student body president >> it's definitely not what i expected senior year to be like. >> reporter: a school year unlike any other kate snow, nbc news. let's talk about about crisis in america's education system student loan debt. president biden rejecting calls within his party to cancel up to $50,000 per borrower he has his own plan but some question if it's enough. with more, here's sam brock.

>> reporter: last night at cnn's town hall. >> we need student loan forgiveness beyond the potential $10,000 your administration has proposed we need at least a $50,000 minimum. what will you do to make that happen >> i will not make that happen. >> reporter: president biden said he's willing to forgive $10,000 in student loans senator elizabeth warren firing back today tweeting the president does have the authority to cancel more though some experts say it doesn't tackle the root of the problem. >> when you're forgiving loans, the students who went to college in the past, that doesn't solve the problems for students who are going to school now or who will go to school in the future. >> reporter: it's a crisis crushing graduates years after they put down the books, the record surge of student debt. >> paying off student loans feels like being stuck on a hamster wheel because you realize you're just paying into interest incessantly and not making a dent in paying it off. >> reporter: kara holds two degrees from florida atlantic university

has three kids, including 10 month old annie and began with $30,000 in student loans >> my balance is now $28,000 >> reporter: more than 40 million are drowning in student debt, more than doubled in just the past decade. nearly a third are in default, late or stopped making payments within six years families like them wait to see how it plays out sam brock, nbc news, boca raton. up next, the death of rush limbaugh

rush limbaugh, the controversial and hugely popular talk radio host has died here's jeff bennett. >> reporter: tragic news of rush limbaugh's death coming from his wife kathryn to his millions of listeners. >> rush, my wonderful husband, passed away this morning due to complications from lung cancer >> reporter: limbaugh was a broadcasting giant and political provocateur. >> i have a question for the democrats. when are you people going to get tired of losing? >> reporter: his self-titled show was the most listened to radio talk show in america >> i am rush limbaugh. america's real anchorman. >> reporter: limbaugh quit college to become a rock 'n' roll dj before finding a footing talking politics known for an extreme conservative slant and at times racist and sexist commentary

>> segregated buses, it's obama's america. >> nazis, here's the deal. >> reporter: conservative politics for decades, he was a top supporter of president trump, who remembered him today. >> he was fighting until the very end he was a fighter. >> reporter: last year, limbaugh told his listeners about his cancer diagnosis he had previously faced other health challenges, an addiction to prescription painkillers and hearing loss. >> my goal was to be the most listened to show, biggest radio show in the country. you all have made it possible. >> reporter: rush limbaugh, always brash, bold, powerful and polarizing jeff bennett, nbc news, washington all right, up next for us tonight, the milestone in scouting

finally, some of the newest eagle scouts are making history. here's kristen dahlgren. >> reporter: in communities around the country, thousand young women flew right through the glass ceiling this week. >> when people think of eagle associated with leadership, service. >> reporter: until now, they were always male in 2019, boy scouts now called scouts bsa opened its ranks to girls. so with at least 21 merit badges >> welding >> reporter: and a service project, these young women ascended to scouts' highest honor, something only 6% of scouts ever achieve. >> perseverance and hard work to get through the ranks and deal with the group of people who scouts. >> reporter: twins dana and

sierra are two of 17 young women in baltimore to lead the way for girls everywhere >> the feeling that anything is possible as long as you work towards it >> reporter: and isn't that the exact ideal that eagle scouts are made of? kristen dahlgren, nbc news. that's nightly news for this wednesday. thank you for watching, everyone ♪ ♪ ♪♪ i ♪ ♪ i'm a one way motorway ♪ ♪ i'm the one that drives away ♪

♪ follows you back home ♪ ♪ i ♪ ♪ i'm a street light shining ♪ ♪ i'm a white light blinding bright ♪ ♪ burning off and on ♪ ♪ uh-huh ♪ ♪ it's times like these ♪ ♪ you learn to live again ♪ ♪ it's times like these ♪ ♪ you give and give again ♪ ♪ it's times like these ♪ ♪ you learn to love again ♪ ♪ i ♪ ♪ i'm a brand new sky ♪ ♪ to hang the stars upon tonight ♪ ♪ but i ♪ ♪ i'm a little divided ♪ ♪ do i stay or run away and ♪

♪ leave it all behind ♪ ♪ it's times like these ♪ ♪ you learn to live again ♪ ♪ it's times like these ♪ ♪ you give and give again ♪ ♪ it's times like these ♪ ♪ you learn to love again ♪ ♪ it's times like these ♪♪ [cheers and applause] [screams] welcome to "the kelly clarkson show," everybody! give it up for my band y'all! looking so sharp today and their little sweaters. they look so cute today. that was "times like these" by the foo fighters. molly from pittsburgh requested that one. what is your connection to the song,